Dan Rostenkowski, 82

(CN) – Dan Rostenkowski, an 18-term congressman from Chicago whose career ended when he pleaded guilty to mail fraud and spent 15 months in federal prison, has died at 82.

Rostenkowski was accused, among other things, of paying ghost employees, of buying $50,000 in stamps with public money and converting them to cash, and obstruction of justice. He settled the 17-count accusation by pleading guilty to two counts of mail fraud. Rostenkowski, a Democrat, was a longtime member and chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee.